(paper instructions on second page) Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts , feelings , and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. [1] By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts , feelings , and behaviors include all of the psychological variables that are measurable in a human being. The statement that others may be imagined or implied suggests that we are prone to social influence even when no other people are present, such as when watching television, or following internalized cultural norms . Social psychologists typically explain human behavior as a result of the interaction of mental states and immediate social situations. In Kurt Lewin 's conceptual formula, behavior can be viewed as a function of the person and the environment, B = f ( P , E ). [2] In general, social psychologists have a preference for laboratory based, empirical findings. Social psychology theories tend to be specific and focused, rather than global and

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